Device for making an electrical connection

ABSTRACT

A plug is provided wherein substantially straight terminals can be attached to flexible conductors, and the straight terminals can be inserted into a molded dielectric body of the plug with substantial ease from a high-volume manufacturing point of view. The body of the plug is molded together integrally so that it can be handled as a one-piece structure when it is being assembled with the terminals.

Pmi-imma mn 3617x382 SHEET l 0F 2 INVENTOR. E C. /Mmfsry ATTORA/EyUnited States Patent [72] Inventor lEdwin C. Hardesty 1,728,251 9/l929Pitt 3391/106 Perry Hall, Md- 3,097,035 7/l963 Despard 339/105 X [21]Appl. No. 758,502 3,192,499 6/1965 West 339/91 [22] Filed Sept. 9,19683,208,032 9/1965 Tilesi 339/102 X [45] Patented NDV-2, 11971 3,274,5309/1966 Michaely.. 339/105 X [73] Assignee Western Electric Company,Incorporated 3,315,211 9/ 1967 Weeks,Jr. 339/63 NEW YOIIk, N-Y- 3,369,2l4 2/1968 Krumreich et al. 339/105 FOREIGN PATENTS [54] DEVHCE FORMAKING AN ELECTRICAL 739,759 l 1/1955 Great Britain 339/102 CONNECTINPrimary Examiner-Richard E. Moore 9 Clowns, 7 Drawing Figs- Mmmm-n.1.winegar, R, P. Miner and Don P. Bush [52] U.S. Cl 339/91, 339/102,339/105, 339/l06,339/176 [51] lnt.Cl ..lHl01r13/56,

u H011' 23/04 ABSTRACT: A plug is provided wherein substantiallystraight [50] lField oiSearch 339/105,` terminals can be attached toflexible conductors' and the 101,91-17610263A806 straight terminals canbe inserted into a molded dielectric body of the plug with substantialease from a high-volume [56] References cned manufacturing point ofview. The body of the plug is molded UNITED STATES PATENTS togetherintegrally so that it can be handled as a one-piece 1,067,005 7/1913Dnray 339/176 X structure when it is being assembled with the terminals.

llz/ f C9@ *u* 7o 22 /04 ,02 86 7o n 72 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l.Field of the Invention The invention relates to devices for makingelectrical connections; and particularly, it relates to devices formaking electrical connections between flexible conductors and terminalswherein conductive terminals are combined with dielectric members toform plugs.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the telephone industry, increasinguse is being made of plug-type connectors on straight and spring handsetand line cords which are used between a base and a handset of atelephone and between the base and a terminal. One of the plug-typeconnectors which has been in use for some time is described in U.S. Pat.No. 3,369,214, issued on Feb. 13, 1968 to C. L. Krumreich et al. In thepresently used plugs, a plurality of terminals are applied to each of aplurality of insulated conductors contained within a jacketed length ofretractile cordage. These terminals are mounted within a dielectricstructure which is attached securely to the associated coradage. Thedielectric portions of the plugs, which are mounted on both ends of alength of the cordage, cooperate with receptacles in the handset and thebase of the telephone to properly align the terminals of the plug withmating terminals within the components of the telephone.

Although these presently employed plugs function satisfactorily, theirincreased usage has developed a situation in which it has becomeimportant to effect manufacturing economies in both the fabrication ofthe plug and the attachment of the plug to the associated cordage.

The presently employed plug is made up of a number of plastic partswhich are riveted together. Terminals are mounted to the plug using arelatively complex bending operation, which is disclosed in a pendingapplication for a U.S. Pat., Ser. No. 590,280, filed Oct. 28, 1966, inthe name of K. McNamara. Additional metal parts are used to latch theplugs within the associated handset components.

When plugs are formed of molded pieces of plastic that are rivetedtogether, it becomes impractical to preassemble the plugs to cordagewhich will eventually be rendered retractile by heat treatment. Manyconventional retractile cords are formed from conductors which areenclosed within a resilient plastic jacket that is rendered retractileafter being wound on a mandrel and being subjected to relatively hightemperatures. As the riveted plugs are subjected to the hightemperatures needed to render the cords retractile, the stressesintroduced by the riveting of the plastic parts together will manifestthemselves in distortions of the plastic components of the plug.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide adevice for making electrical connections between conductors and aterminal wherein manufacturing of the device and attachment of thedevice to the conductors can be accomplished conveniently andeconomically.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device for makingelectrical connections which can be fabricated by using conventionalmolding techniques and into which device electrical conductors havingterminals attached thereto can be very easily assembled.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device formaking electrical connections wherein electrical conductors andelectrically conductive terminals attached thereto can be readilyassembled to and disassembled from an integral dielectric portionwithout distortion ofthe terminals.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electricalconnector for a retractile-type electrical'cord which connector can beassembled to the cord before the cord is heat treated to achieve itsdesired retractile properties and which connector can be exposed to thesame environments to which the cord is exposed in the treatment withoutthe connector suffering any degradation in its properties due to theexposure.

A device for making an electrical connection embodying certain featuresof the invention may include a dielectric portion having aconductor-input end and having a free end opposite the conductor-inputend, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having aconductor-input end, having a free end opposite the conductor-input endand having a substantially straight longitudinal axis :and the devicebeing assembled with the conductor-input end ofthe terminal orientedtoward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end ofthe terminal oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectricportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and features of thepresent invention will be more readily understood from the followingdetailed description of specified embodiments thereof when read inconjunction with accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a telephone set showing the inventiveplugs inserted into a handset and a base portion thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top view of one of the plugs with a portion of a grommetthereof removed for purposes of clarity to show an interconnectionbetween the grommet and a dielectric portion of the plug;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the plug shown in FIG. 2 shown along thelines 3-3;

FIG. A is a bottom view of the plug illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5, is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the plugillustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the relationship between the plug illustratedin FIG. 2 inserted into a handset portion of the telephone illustratedin FIG. il;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a plug usedl in the base portion of a telephoneused in FIG. 1 showing azn alternate arrangement for attaining strainrelief` in a cord inserted into a plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. l, there is shown atelephone, designated generally by the numeral 110, which includes abase portion, designated generally by the numeral 12 and a handsetportion, designated generally by the numeral M. A retractile cord,designated generally by the numeral 16, interconnects the base portionl2 and the handset portion 1A. The retractile cord 16 is provided with aplug, designated generally by the numeral 16, at the handset end thereofand a plug, designated generally by the numeral 20, at the base endthereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 or 4, a more detailed view of the structureof the retractile cord 16 can be seen. The retractile cord 16 includes ajacket 22 andi a plurality of insulated conductors 24-24. At the freeend of each of the conductors 24-24, there is a terminal, designatedgenerally by the numeral 26. The terminals 26-26 are placed directlyover the insulated conductors 24-24. Incorporated in a ferrule portion28 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in each of the terminals 26-26 are someinsulation-piercing barbs SII-3(1) (FIG. 4) which provide electricalconnection between the conductive portion of the conductor 2d and theassociated terminal. Each of the terminals 26-26 also has a flat contactportion 32 which is util ized to complete he connection between theconductor 24 and an associated internal-contacting component 3d, whichis illustrated in FIG. 6.

A conventional, strain-relief band 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is applied to thecord 16 after the cord is inserted in the plug 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and d, there are shown detailed views of theplug ll. A rigid, dielectric portion, designated generally by thenumeral All), is designed to be a part which can be easily molded byusing conventional injection-molding techniques. The rigid, dielectricportion t0 has a free end 42, a conductor-input end A41, aterminal-supportin g side A6 and a conductor-guiding side A8.

A cavity 56 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed as a depression into theconductor-guiding side 4d. The cavity 56 extends from a conductor-inputaperture 50 (FIG. 2) to a series of conductorguiding grooves 58-58 (FIG.2) which are in communication with the free end\42 of the dielectricportion 40. The conductor-guiding grooves 58-58 also communicate withfree-end grooves 60-60 (FIG. 2); and the free-end grooves, in turn,communicate with terminal-orienting grooves 62-62 (FIG. 4) which areformed as depressions in the terminal-supporting side 46.

Conductor-retaining teeth 64-64 are formed at the free end 42 of thedielectric portion 40. Rounded teeth 66-66 (FIGS. 2 and 3) restrict theopening in the associated conductor-guiding grooves 58-58. The spacebetween two of the opposing teeth 64-64 and 66-66 is sufficiently smallso that when one of the insulated conductors 24-24 is placed within theconductor-guiding groove 58, the insulation on the conductor must bedistorted before the conductor will pass laterally between the opposedsets of teeth. The interrelation between the conductor insulation andeach of the opposed sets of teeth 64-64 and 66-66 provides a lockingforce on the conductors 24-24 which helps to assure that each conductorremains in place within its conductor-guiding groove 58.

Referring now to FIG. 5, viewing each of the free-end grooves 60-60 fromthe free end 42, inwardly, there are three types of teeth which faceinto each of the free-end grooves. The first type of teeth is thealready-mentioned conductor-retaining teeth 64-64. The second type ofteeth is terminal-captivating teeth 70-70; each tooth traversingsubstantially a middle one-third of the depth of the associated freeendgroove 60; each tooth extending outwardly into the groove approximately0.014 inch, and each tooth extending inwardly from the end of the groovewhich faces the terminalsupporting side 46 a sufficient distance topartially occlude the opening of the terminal-orienting groove 62 withwhich the associated free-end groove communicates. Theterminal-captivating teeth 70-70 help to prevent undesired longitudinalmotion of the terminals 26-26 in the direction of the free end 42 afterthe terminals are assembled to the dielectric portion 40. The third typeof teeth is terminal-retaining teeth 72-72, each tooth extendingoutwardly into the associated free-end groove 60 approximately 0.006inch along the depth of the free-end groove from the innermost side ofthe associated terminal-captivating tooth 70 to the bottom of thefree-end groove, and each tooth 72 extending inwardly from the end ofthe associated groove which faces the terminal-supporting side 46sufficiently to act as a snap lock for the ferrule portion 28 of theterminal 26.

It should be noted that the arrangement of the teeth 70-70 and 72-72 isone which allows for a design of an injectionmolding die (not shown),wherein core pins (not shown) which move perpendicularly to the plane ofthe conductorguiding side 48 can be utilized. Since it is desirable tomake an injection-molding die for the dielectric portion 40 with aparting line substantially parallel to the conductor-guiding side 48, itcan be seen that the particular arrangement of teeth 70-70 and 72-72 isone which does not require undercutting with respect to the desiredmotion of the die; and thus, the necessary complexities of die structurewhich are associated with undercutting are eliminated.

Referring now to FIG. 3, terminal-locking apertures 74-74 extend throughthe entire body of the dielectric portion 40 from the conductor-guidingside 48 to the terminal-supporting side 46. At the end of the apertures74-74 facing the terminal-supporting side 46, a shelf 76 crosses asubstantial portion ofthe aperture but does not completely block it. Theshelf` 76 is formed on a bridge projection, designated generally by thenumeral 78l which bridge projection extends across the entire width ofthe dielectric portion 40 on the terminal-supporting side 46 thereof.The combined height of the bridge projection 78 and thickness of theshelf 76 is such that the terminal-locking apertures 74--74 areaccessible through an opening from the plane of a contact-supportingsurface 77. The walls of each of the apertures 74-74 form a closed endof the associated one of the terminal-orienting grooves 62-62.

It should be noted that the terminal-locking apertures 74 74 can beformed with core pins (not shown) or molding die components (not shown)which move perpendicularly to the plane of the terminal-supporting side46. If it were not for the apertures 74--74 extending through the entirethickness of the dielectric portion 40, it might be necessary to providemeans for undercutting in the injection-molding die (not shown Each ofthe terminal-locking apertures 74-74 is in alignment with one of theterminal-orienting grooves 62-62. In assembling one of the terminals26-26 to the dielectric portion 40, the flat contact portion 32 of theterminal is inserted through the opening between the shelf 76 and thecontact supporting surface 77 into one of the tenninal-locking apertures74-74 to the closed end of one of the grooves 62-62, and the ferruleportion 28 is pressed into the associated terminalorienting groove 62.When the ferrule portion 28 is in its proper position within theassociated terminal-orienting groove 62, the outermost surfaces of theferrule portion are located inwardly of the associatedterminal-retaining teeth 72-72 and inwardly of the terminal-captivatingteeth 70-70. The combination of the flat contact portion 32 of theterminal 26 being captively engaged in the terminal-locking aperture 74and the ferrule portion 28 of the terminal being captively engagedwithin the terminal-retaining teeth 72-72 and terminal-captivating teeth70-70 along with the ferrule portion of the terminal being lodged withinthe well-defined terminalorienting groove 62, provides a situationwherein the terminal is very securely positioned and held on thedielectric portion 40.

The contact-supporting surface 77 is disposed between each of theterminal-locking apertures 74-74 and their associated terminal-orientinggrooves 62-62. The existence of the flat contact-supporting surface 77in this area provides a situation where the flat contacting portion 32of each of the terminals 26-26 is provided with a solid support whichwill prevent undesirable deflection or twisting of the flat portion ofthe contacting portion of the terminal when the contacting portionbecomes engaged with the associated internal contacting portion 34 (FIG.6). This prevention of deflection or twisting and provision of a solidbacking for the contacting portion 32 of the terminal 26 helps toprovide a highly desirable electrical connecting system.

Formed integrally with the dielectric portion 40 is a resilient lockingtab, designated generally by the numeral 84. The locking tab 84 isapproximately 0.035 inch thick, 0.300 inch wide, 0.500 inch long, and ismolded so that its longitudinal axis is oriented at an angle ofapproximately 15 with respect to the plane of the terminal-supportingside 46. A hinge end 86 of the locking tab 84 is molded into one side ofthe bridge projection 78, substantially in the middle of the projection.The combined height of the bridge projection 78, thickness of thelocking tab 84 and resilience of the locking tab are such that the tabcan be deflected inwardly of the dielectric portion 40 so that the tabcan become substantially coplanar with the outermost surface of thebridge projection 78. After being released, the locking tab 84 willresume its originally molded shape and orientation because of itsnatural resilience. Proper resilience to provide the desired flexingproperties can be incorporated into the locking tab 84 when it is moldedfrom polycarbonate with the aforementioned dimensions.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, there are apertures 85-85 providedthrough the dielectric portion 40 from the conductor-guiding side 48 tothe terminal-supporting side 46 for purposes of providing asubstantially unifonn wall thickness for the molded part. In addition,these apertures -85 are useful for mounting the dielectric portion 40 toan assembly fixture (not shown) when assembly of the terminals 26-26 tothe dielectric portion is being accomplished.

The grommet includes a plug-engaging portion 102 and a conductor lead-inportion 104. A sloped surface 106 is provided at the end of the portion102 facing away from the dielectric portion 40. The angle of the slopedsurface 106 is such that when the plug 18 is inserted into itsassociated handset 161, the sloped surface will be aligned with andsubstantially conform to the configuration of the surface ofthe handsetand will thus present an aesthetic appearance. The conductor lead-inportion 10d provides a gradual, flexible transition section from thediameter of the cord 16 which is inserted therethrough to thecross-sectional area of the plug 18. In addition to helping to providean aesthetic appearance, the conductor lead-in portion 18d helps toprevent undesirably sharp bends from developing in the cord 16 where thecord enters the plug 18.

Referring now to FlG. 6, the interrelationship of the plug 18 and thehandset portion 1d is shown, wherein each of the internal-contactingportions 311-341 are mounted in an internalconnector assembly,designated generally by the numeral 110. Each of the terminals 26-26engages with one of the internalcontacting portions 341-34. A free end107 of the tab 8d snaps in behind a ridge 1118. Each of theinternal-contacting portions 31-341 is formed of a resilient material sothat contact with the associated terminal 26 is maintained properly.Both the internal-contacting portions 34-341 and the terminals 26-26 arepreferably plated with gold to reduce the adverse effects of corrosionon the electrical connection which might otherwise form between theseelements.

The connector assembly 1111 includes some indexing shoulders 112-112which fit into indexing depressions 1101-1141 of complementary shapewhich are formed into the dielectric portion d@ ofeach of the plugs 18-18.

A grommet-anchoring projection, designated generally by the numeral 87,is formed at the conductor-input end 44. The projection 87 is providedwith two substantially rectangular grommet-anchoring apertures 88-88extending therethrough perpendicular to the plane of theconductor-guiding side 48.

A grommet, designated generally by the numeral 1110, is molded in placeonto the grommet-anchoring projection 87 of the dielectric portion d0.The grommet 100 is formed preferably of a material with a high degree ofplasticity such as polyvinyl chloride. lt is expected that the grommet180 should be relatively flexible whereas the dielectric portion 40should be substantially rigid; and for this reason, the grommet must beformed of a different material than the dielectric portion.Consequently, the grommet 100 is molded to the dielectric portion 111 inan operation which is separate from the actual molding of the dielectricportion. When the polyvinyl chloride material of the grommet 100 ismolded onto the grommetanchoring projection 87, the material flowsthrough the grommet-anchoring apertures 88-88. The grommet-anchoringprojection 87 is of generally smaller cross-sectional area than the mainbody of the dielectric portion 10. The grommet 100 is of such a sizethat when it becomes formed around the projection 87, itscross-sectional area is substantially the same as the main body of thedielectric portion 40. This arrangement provides that a substantiallyuniform wall thickness of polyvinyl chloride surrounds the entire outersurface of the grommet-anchoring projection 87. This uniform wall is, ofcourse, in communication with the polyvinyl chloride material whichfills the grommet-anchoring apertures 88-88 and thus, a highly secureanchoring of the grommet 11111 to the dielectric portion is obtained.

The indexing shoulders 112-112 of the connector assembly 1111 andindexing depressions 1141-1111 of the plug 18 are used to ensure thatthe plug 20 (FIGS. 1 and 7) which is used for the base portion 12 is notinserted into the handset portion 1&1. Because of differences inconfiguration of the internal members (not shown) ofthe base portion 12,it is necessary to provide the plug 20 with a tab (not shown) which isof a different length than the tab 8d ofthe plug 18.

lf desired, it would be possible to incorporate a secondary lockingridge (not shown) across tabs like the tab 84 so that it would not berequired to have tabs of different lengths used for the base portion 12and the handset portion 14. lt would then be possible to use a universalplus (not shown) which could be placed on either end ofthe cord 16.

The ridge 1118 is provided with a notch 116 through which a stiff wire(not shown) can be inserted to lift the free end 107 of the tab 841 whenit is desired to move the plug 18 from the handset portion 14.

Referring now to FlG. 7, there is illustrated the plug 20 which is usedwith the base portion 12 of the telephone 10. The plug 20 does not havea grommet formed thereon, but instead, uses a bellmouth-shaped or flaredaperture 118 thro ugh which the retractile cord 16 is inserted. Thebellmouth aperture 118 is provided with a smooth curvature so that nounduly sharp bending will occur in the retractile cord 16 when the cordis moved from side to side with respect to the base portion 12.

FIG. 7 also illustrates an alternate embodiment for accom` plishingstrain relief. The individual conductors 241-211 are tied into a knot120. The knot 1211 is made by separating the conductors 224-241 into agroup of two of the conductors and a group of three of the conductorsand then tying the knot by passing a first group of the conductorsaround a second group of the conductors in an end-over-end fashion,similarly to accomplishing the first stage of tying a square knot. lt isimportant to make the knot 1211 relatively small so that a portion ofthe jacket 22 can be easily made to slide up over the knot to form awedgelike covering 121. A simple knot (not shown), tied by using all ofthe conductors 2111-24 as a single end, will result in too large across-sectional area for proper functioning in forming the wedgelikecovering 121.

A peg 122 is included in the plug 28 in the case where the knot 120 isused for strain relief. The peg 122 can be molded directly into the plug28. The peg 122 is positioned so that some of the conductors 241-241will lie on either side of the peg. Thus, rotation of the plug 211 withrespect to the cord 16 is to a large extent prevented. lf the peg 122were not used to help maintain the knot 128 in position, forced againstthe aperture 118, it might be possible to have situations develop inwhich the cord 16 was continually rotated about its own axis andeventually the individual conductors 24-24 would be wound up on oneanother to the extent that the conductors would be pulled out of theirproper positions within the ferrules 28-28 and consequently, createelectrical discontinuit1es.

When the plug 2l) is assembled with the cord 16, an excess length of thecord is pulled out through the bellmouth aperture 118 before the knot1211 is tied. After the knot 120 is tied and the terminals 26-26 are intheir proper positions, the excess length of the cord 16 is pulled backout through the bellmouth aperture 118. The existence of the peg 122creates a tortuous path for the excess length ofthe cord 16; and becauseof a scraping of the jacket 22 over the peg, the jacket is pulledforward so that it forms the wedgelike covering 121. The crea tion ofthe wedgelike covering 121 helps to reduce stress concentration betweenportions of the individual conductors 24- 241 and the edges of thebellmouth aperture 118.

The material from which the plugs 18 and 20 are formed `can be pigmentedto match the color of the telephone 10.

Similarly, the material of the grommet 188 can be pigmented to match thecolor of the telephone 10 with which it is used.

A distinct advantage of the herendescribed shape and arrangement oftheplugs 18 and 211 is that they can be attached to the retractile cord 16before the cord is rendered retractile. ln a manufacturing operation(not shown), it is much simpler to handle straight lengths of cordagewhile assembling large numbers of plugs 18 and 211 to large numbers ofcords 16-16. The particular dielectric portion 18 herein described ismade of a material which can tolerate prolonged exposure to hightemperature atmospheres to which the cords 16-16 are exposed when theirretractile properties are imparted to them. The dielectric portion 18 ispreferably molded from polycarbonate of an injection-molding grade whichremains distortion free at temperatures up to 280 F. to 290 F. atatmospheric pressure. An example of such a material is Lexan 2805-112,available from General Electric Company, Pittsfield, Mass. Thetemperature to which the cord 16 is exposed in order to set theretractile shape in the cord is 265 F. Thus, the polycarbonate in thedielectric portion 40 can readily tolerate the retractile settingtemperature of 265 F. without suffering any undesired change of shape.

The grommet 100 is formed of polyvinyl chloride of the same resincomposition that the jacket 22 is formed. The apertures 85-85 can beused to support the plug 18 so that the grommets 100-100 can be heldfrom contact with any xtures or disturbing elements (not shown) duringthe time when the cord 16 is exposed to the high temperatures needed toimpart the retractile shape to the cord. Thus, it is possible to keepthe grommet 100 from being distorted during the heating of the cord 16.

Since the plugs 18 and 20 have no closed cavities, it is possible toallow a conventional washing operation (not shown), to be performed onthe cord 16 and plug without the hazard of having water and detergentsolution entrapped within the plug. lt is part of the conventionalmanufacturing technique to wash retractile cords 16-16 after the cordshave been placed in a retractile configuration with water and detergentsolution.

The configurations of the plugs 18 and 20 are such that water anddetergent solutions can easily be rinsed out of the plugs and the plugscan be readily dried, thus substantially eliminating any future hazardof corrosion from allowing water and detergent to remain in the plugs.It is, therefore, possible to utilize the conventional manufacturingtechniques for making a cord retractile and washing it after it becomesretractile, even though the plugs 18 and 20 are in place on the endsofthe cords l6-16,

lt is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the principles of the invention. Other arrangements maybe devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principlesof the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

lclaim:

l. A plug device which cooperates with a receptacle for making anelectrical connection between an elongated flexible conductor connectedto the plug device and an internal contacting component within thereceptacle, which comprises:

a dielectric portion having an input end for receiving an elongatedflexible conductor and a free end opposite the conductor-input end,

an electrically conductive terminal having one end thereof connectedelectrically to the conductor, and having a free end opposite the oneend, the one end and the free end lying along a substantially straightlongitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductorinserted into the input end of the dielectric portion and reversely bentaround the free end thereof, the one end of the terminal oriented towardthe free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of theterminal oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectricportion, the terminal caused to engage electrically the internalcontacting cornponent when the plug device is assembled to thereceptacle;

means connected to the dielectric portion for engaging the terminal torestrict relative movement between the terminal and the dielectricportion; and

means connected to the dielectric portion fo'r engaging the conductoradjacent the free end of the dielectric portion to lock conductor to thedielectric portion.

2. A device for making an electrical connection which comprises:

a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free endopposite the conductor-input end,

at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having aconductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and asubstantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembledwith the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward thefree end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminalportion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectricportion;

a flexible grommet portion, and

a grommet-securing aperture extending through the dielectric portion,wherein the grommet portion is formed in surrounding relationship with aportion of the dielectric portion, and the material from which thegrommet is formed substantially fills the aperture in the dielectricportion so that the material in the aperture is in communication withthe remainder of the material of the grommet portion at both ends of theaperture to form an integral connection between the grommet portion andthe dielectric portion.

3. A device for making an electrical connection as set forth in claim 1,which comprises:

a resilient tab formed integrally with the dielectric portion forlocking the dielectric portion into the receptacle, the tab having afree end and a secured end, the tab being attached by its secured end tothe dielectric portion, and the axis of the tab being oriented outwardlyof the dielectric portion and toward the conductor-input end of thedielectric portion.

4. A device for making an electrical connection as set forth in claim l,wherein:

the dielectric portion being formed with at least one groove havingwalls; and

the means for engaging the conductor including at least one toothprojecting from at least one of the walls inwardly of the groove, pastwhich tooth a portion of the conductor can be urged so that theconductor is retained within the groove.

5. A device for making an electrical connection as set forth in claim l,which also comprises:

a jacket formed over the conductor, the jacket having an expanded endwherein the conductor is formed into a knot which combines with theexpanded end of the jacket to form a strain-relief system.

6. A device for making an electrical connection which comprises:

a dielectric portion having a conductoninput end and a free end oppositethe conductor-input end,

at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having 40 aconductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and asubstantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembledwith the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward thefree end of the dielectrical portion and with the free end of theterminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of thedielectric portion;

at least one elongated conductive element;

a jacket formed over the element, the jacket having an expanded end,wherein the conductive element is formed into a knot which combines withthe expanded end of the jacket to form a strain-relief system; and

a member that is engageable with the knot to maintain the knot and theexpanded end of the jacket securely against the dielectric portion sothat a potential for twisting of the conductive elements with respect tothe dielectric portion is reduced.

7. A device for making an electrical connection as set forth in claim 1,wherein:

the dielectric portion including at least one opening therein,

60 the opening being large enough to permit insertion of the free end ofthe at least one terminal so that the material of the dielectric portionadjacent the opening will substantially encompass a portion of the freeend of the associated terminal to prevent unintended lateral motion ofthe free end; and

the dielectric portion including at least one groove therein, thelongitudinal axis of the groove being aligned with the desiredorientation for the axis of the at least one terminal and wherein atleast portions of the walls of the groove engage with the associatedterminal to limit lateral movement of said terminal.

8. A device for making an electrical connection, which comprises:

a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free 75 endopposite the conductor-input end,

at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having aconductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and asubstantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembledwith the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward thefree end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminalportion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectricportion;

the dielectric portion including at least one opening therein, theopening being large enough to accommodate the free end of the at leastone terminal portion so that the material of the dielectric portionadjacent the opening will substantially encompass a portion of the freeend of the associated terminal portion to limit lateral motion of thefree end;

the dielectric portion including at least one groove therein, thelongitudinal axis of the groove being aligned with the desiredorientation for the axis of the at least one terminal portion, andwherein at least portions of the walls of the groove engage with withassociated terminal portion to limit lateral movement of said terminalportion; and

the groove is closed on at least one of its ends and the opening isspaced from the closed end of the groove so that a portion of thematerial of the dielectric portion between the closed end of one of thegrooves and one of the openings forms a supporting surface for a portionof the at least one terminal portion.

9. A device which cooperates with a receptacle for making an electricalconnection between insulated conductors and internal contactingcomponents within the receptacle, which comprises:

a dielectric portion having an input end for receiving an insulatedconductor and a free end opposite the conductorinput end, and having acavity intermediate the input end and the free end;

the dielectric portion further having a terminal-supporting side and aconductor-guiding side;

the free end being formed with a plurality of free-end grooves whichcommunicate with associated ones of a plurality of terminal-orientinggrooves formed on an underside of the dielectric portion, the free endfurther formed with conductor-retaining teeth for retaining theconductors within the associated free-end grooves, the free-end groovesconnected to the cavity through associated ones ofa pluralityofconductor-guiding grooves;

the underside of the dielectric portion being formed withterminal-captivating teeth traversing substantially a portion of theassociated free-end groove, the terminal-captivating captivating teethextending outwardly into the associated ones of the free-end grooves andinwardly from the free-end of the dielectric portion a sufficientdistance to partially occlude the opening of the associatedterminal-orienting groove, the free end further being formed withterminal-retainin g teeth, each of the term inal-retaining teethprojecting outwardly into the associated freeend groove along the depthof the free-end groove from the innermost side of the associatedterminal-captivating tooth to the bottom of the free-end groove, eachterminal-retaining tooth also extending inwardly from the end of theassociated free-end groove which faces the terminal supporting side; and

a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having facilitiesat one end thereof for establishing an electrical and mechanicalconnection with associated ones of the insulated conductors and having afree end opposite the one end, the one end and the free end lying alonga substantially straight longitudinal axis;

the device being assembled with the insulated conductors inserted intothe input end of the dielectric portion and received in associated onesof the conductor-guiding grooves and through the associated ones of thefree-end grooves, reversely bent around fthe free end of the dielec`tric portion, and connected to the one endof the associated terminal,each terminal being received in an associated one of theterminal-orienting grooves with the one end oriented toward the free endof the dielectric portion and with the free end thereof oriented towardthe input end of the dielectric portion, the terminal positioned in theassociated terminall-orienting groove so as to be caused to engageelectrically the internal contacting component when the device isassembled to the receptacle;

the conductor-retaining teeth providing a locking force on theconductors to secure the conductors within the associated ones oftheconductor-guiding grooves,

the terminal-captivating teeth preventing undesired longitudinal motionof the associated ones of the terminals; and

the terminal-retaining teeth securing the conductor-receiving portion ofthe associated terminal within the associated one of theterminal-orienting grooves.

1. A plug device which cooperates with a receptacle for making anelectrical connection between an elongated flexible conductor connectedto the plug device and an internal contacting component within thereceptacle, which comprises: a dielectric portion having an input endfor receiving an elongated flexible conductor and a free end oppositethe conductor-input end, an electrically conductive terminal having oneend thereof connected electrically to the conductor, and having a freeend opposite the one end, the one end and the free end lying along asubstantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembledwith the conductor inserted into the input end of the dielectric portionand reversely bent around the free end thereof, the one end of theterminal oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and withthe free end of the terminal oriented toward the conductor-input end ofthe dielectric portion, the terminal caused to engage electrically theinternal contacting component when the plug device is assembled to thereceptacle; means connected to the dielectric portion for engaging theterminal to restrict relative movement between the terminal and thedielectric portion; and means connected to the dielectric portion forengaging the conductor adjacent the free end of the dielectric portionto lock conductor to the dielectric portion.
 2. A device for making anelectrical connection which comprises: a dielectric portion having aconductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, atleast one electrically conductive terminal portion having aconductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and asubstantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembledwith the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward thefree end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminalportion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectricportion; a flexible grommet portion, and a grommet-securing apertureextending through the dielectric portion, wherein the grommet portion isformed in surrounding relationship with a portion of the dielectricportion, and the material from which the grommet is formed substantiallyfills the aperture in the dielectric portion so that the material in theaperture is in communication with the remainder of the material of thegrommet portion at both ends of the aperture to form an integralconnection between the grommet portion and the dielectric portion.
 3. Adevice for making an electrical connection as set forth in claim 1,which comprises: a resilient tab formed integrally with the dielectricportion for locking the dielectric portion into the receptacle, the tabhaving a free end and a secured end, the tab being attached by itssecured end to the dielectric portion, and the axis of the tab beingoriented outwardly of the dielectric portion and toward theconductor-input end of the dielectric portion.
 4. A device for making anelectrical connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the dielectricportion being formed with at least one groove having walls; and themeans for engaging the conductor including at least one tooth projectingfrom at least one of the walls inwardly of the groove, past which tootha portion of the conductor can be urged so that the conductor isretained within the groove.
 5. A device for making an electricalconnection as set forth in claim 1, which also comprises: a jacketformed over the conductor, the jacket having an expanded end wherein theconductor is formed into a knot which combines with the expanded end ofthe jacket to form a strain-relief system.
 6. A device for making anelectrical connection which comprises: a dielectric portion having aconductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, atleast one electrically conductive terminal portion having aconductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and asubstantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembledwith the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward thefree end of the dielectrical portion and with the free end of theterminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of thedielectric portion; at least one elongated conductive element; a jacketformed over the element, the jacket having an expanded end, wherein theconductive element is formed into a knot which combines with theexpanded end of the jacket to form a strain-relief system; and a memberthat is engageable with the knot to maintain the knot and the expandedend of the jacket securely against the dielectric portion so that apotential for twisting of the conductive elements with respect to thedielectric portion is reduced.
 7. A device for making an electricalconnection as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the dielectric portionincluding at least one opening therein, the opening being large enoughto permit insertion of the free end of the at least one terminal so thatthe material of the dielectric portion adjacent the opening willsubstantially encompass a portion of the free end of the associatedterminal to prevent unintended lateral motion of the free end; and thedielectric portion including at least one groove therein, thelongitudinal axis of the groove being aligned with the desiredorientation for the axis of the at least one terminal and wherein atleast portions of the walls of the groove engage with the associatedterminal to limit lateral movement of said terminal.
 8. A device formaking an electrical connection, which comprises: a dielectric portionhaving a conductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-inputend, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having aconductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and asubstantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembledwith the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward thefree end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminalportion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectricportion; the dielectric portion including at least one opening therein,the opening being large enough to accommodate the free end of the atleast one terminal portion so that the material of the dielectricportion adjacent the opening will substantially encompass a portion ofthe free end of the associated terminal portion to limit lateral motionof the free end; the dielectric portion including at least one groovetherein, the longitudinal axis of the groove being aligned with thedesired orientation for the axis of the at least one terminal portion,and wherein at least portions of the walls of the groove engage withwith associated terminal portion to limit lateral movement of saidterminal portion; and the groove is closed on at least one of its endsand the opening is spaced from the closed end of the groove so that aportion of the material of the dielectric portion between the closed endof one of the grooves and one of the openings forms a supporting surfacefor a portion of the at least one terminal portion.
 9. A device whichcooperates with a receptacle for making an electrical connection betweeninsulated conductors and internal contacting components within thereceptacle, which comprises: a dielEctric portion having an input endfor receiving an insulated conductor and a free end opposite theconductor-input end, and having a cavity intermediate the input end andthe free end; the dielectric portion further having aterminal-supporting side and a conductor-guiding side; the free endbeing formed with a plurality of free-end grooves which communicate withassociated ones of a plurality of terminal-orienting grooves formed onan underside of the dielectric portion, the free end further formed withconductor-retaining teeth for retaining the conductors within theassociated free-end grooves, the free-end grooves connected to thecavity through associated ones of a plurality of conductor-guidinggrooves; the underside of the dielectric portion being formed withterminal-captivating teeth traversing substantially a portion of theassociated free-end groove, the terminal-captivating captivating teethextending outwardly into the associated ones of the free-end grooves andinwardly from the free-end of the dielectric portion a sufficientdistance to partially occlude the opening of the associatedterminal-orienting groove, the free end further being formed withterminal-retaining teeth, each of the terminal-retaining teethprojecting outwardly into the associated free-end groove along the depthof the free-end groove from the innermost side of the associatedterminal-captivating tooth to the bottom of the free-end groove, eachterminal-retaining tooth also extending inwardly from the end of theassociated free-end groove which faces the terminal supporting side; anda plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having facilitiesat one end thereof for establishing an electrical and mechanicalconnection with associated ones of the insulated conductors and having afree end opposite the one end, the one end and the free end lying alonga substantially straight longitudinal axis; the device being assembledwith the insulated conductors inserted into the input end of thedielectric portion and received in associated ones of theconductor-guiding grooves and through the associated ones of thefree-end grooves, reversely bent around the free end of the dielectricportion, and connected to the one end of the associated terminal, eachterminal being received in an associated one of the terminal-orientinggrooves with the one end oriented toward the free end of the dielectricportion and with the free end thereof oriented toward the input end ofthe dielectric portion, the terminal positioned in the associatedterminal-orienting groove so as to be caused to engage electrically theinternal contacting component when the device is assembled to thereceptacle; the conductor-retaining teeth providing a locking force onthe conductors to secure the conductors within the associated ones ofthe conductor-guiding grooves, the terminal-captivating teeth preventingundesired longitudinal motion of the associated ones of the terminals;and the terminal-retaining teeth securing the conductor-receivingportion of the associated terminal within the associated one of theterminal-orienting grooves.